While the content of Dr. Stephen Perle’s 2018 McAndrews Leadership Lecture has been intentionally kept under wraps, the title, “Grilled Cheese, Candles and Beer,” has raised a lot of questions (and a few eyebrows, frankly). In this Q&A with Dr. Perle, a respected academic and researcher, ACA Blogs tries to find some answers. To get the whole story, plan on attending the National Chiropractic Leadership Conference in person to hear Dr. Perle’s presentation on Saturday, March 3.

Ethics and evidence-based practice are "inextricably" linked, according to Charles A Simpson, DC, DABCO, a presenter at the 2018 National Chiropractic Leadership Conference (NCLC). Over his 40-plus year career in chiropractic and through his work as a health care workforce regulator, Dr. Simpson has witnessed ethical highs and lows among health care providers of all types. His experience has left him with keen insights into how to run a practice ethically as well as successfully.

It is now well known that low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide and that chiropractors can play a pivotal role in the management of this condition. However, the chiropractic profession can achieve wider acceptance and improved cultural authority, particularly within integrated health care delivery systems, by embracing and integrating current scientific research into our approach to evidence-based health care. It is in this context that this Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) was developed. The aim of this systematic review was to update and combine three previously published clinical guidelines, while answering this question: “What is the effectiveness of chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation (SMT), for nonspecific low back pain?”

*Member-Exclusive Content* The federal tax bill approved by Congress today—and on its way now to the president's desk for his signature—contains several provisions that may affect chiropractic clinics and chiropractic students. Among the massive rework of the federal tax code is language that deals with “pass through” business tax, student loans and changes to the Affordable Care Act.

As 2017 ends and 2018 begins, this may be a great time to reevaluate your financial health. For many, 2017 proved to be a financial market bonanza, depending on whether you participated in the financial arena and how your investments were allocated. Prior to year end, there may be time to review profits and losses with the tax implications of selling and netting, or keeping and carrying over into 2018.

Practice compliance and success are not diametrically opposed!

After serving as the president of the North Carolina Chiropractic Association, Kevin Sharp, DC, a presenter at NCLC2018, realized that many of the chiropractors in his state lacked a clear understanding of how to effectively code and manage the business side of their practices. Since then, he has devoted himself to teaching thousands of doctors and their staff how to effectively code, document and be compliant in their practices in a way that motivates them. "When you can break down the barriers of this aspect of what we do, doctors can free themselves up to focus on patient care," he writes. "In addition, I show doctors how a compliant practice can be profitable—which many think is diametrically opposed! You can run a compliant practice and make it profitable at the same time."

Part of the Evidence in Action series by the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research

Clinical guidelines for adults with acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain support conservative management with spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). Research shows SMT is comparable to other noninvasive treatments in reducing low back pain and disability with relatively low risk for adverse events. However, the mechanisms leading to pain relief from SMT are poorly understood. Identifying therapeutic mechanisms of SMT can inform treatment strategies and lead to more effective care.